Improvement in table-leaf supports



E. L. ABBOTT & s. T. alssou.

, V Table-Leaf Supports. No. 138,309. Patented AprH29J873.

INVENTDH c. wozwfi fhmaz j w' J PATENT OEEIcE.

EVERETT L. ABBOTT AND SAMUEL T.

GIBSON, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT lN TABLE-LEAF SUPPORTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No- 13S,309, dated April 29, 1873 application filed April 5, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EVERETT L. ABBOTT and SAMUEL T. GIBsoN, both of South Bend, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented a new, useful, and Improved Table-Leaf Support, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, which will enable others skilled in the art to which our invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure .1 represents a front elevation of a table provided with our improved leaf-sup.

port; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a top view thereof; and Fig. 4, a plan view of the parts attached to the leaf.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts.

In the drawing, A represents the table, and B its leaf. 0 is a supporting arm or rod, bent. in the manner shown. aa are spiral ribs on the arm 0. a a are spiral loops, by means of which the arm 0 is attached to the leaf. By thisineans, as the arm O is turned in its bearings it will be carried to or from the table, according to the direction in which it is turned. D is a slotted plate, from which the loops a a depend, and which is attached to the leaf 'by means of screws passing through the slots, as shown, so that the said plate may be readily adjusted at agreater or less distance from the table. D is also a slotted plate, attached to the table in the manner shown, so as to be vertically adjustable thereon. e is an inclined and serrated ridge on the plate D, and preferably in the form of the arc of a circle, as shown. We also deem it preferable to extend the lower edge of the plate D above the serrated part c, as shown at e. The lower end of the arm 0 is formed to el'igage the serrations on the plate D. I It will be observed, from the foregoing description, that the arm 0 will fall automatically when the leaf is raised, and that its momentum, together with its forward movement as it falls, will carry its point until it engages some of the teeth on the serrated part c, and that it will be there held. A slight upward pressure upon the leaf will be sufficient to release the arm from its engagement with the teeth, and it may then be folded up against the table by means of the part d, so that the leaf may be lowered. Any change in the relative position of the plates D and D on account of shrinkage will not render the device inoperative, for the reason that the end of the arm 0 will then find a new bearing which will support the leaf in proper position. It will also be perceived that the same result will be produced if the part c is not inclined but we deem it preferable to make it inclined, so as not to depend wholly upon the forward movement of the arm 0. By slotting the plates D and D in the manner shown, the screws by means of which they are attached need not be carefully set in the first instance, and these plates are thus rendered readily adjustable. The rib e prevents the arm 0 from being pushedaway from the teeth 0 by reason of the weight of the leaf or by the weight of articles supported by the leaf. For this reason the arm 0 may be made comparatively light. In case the arm 0 does not find a proper bearing automatically when the leaf is raised, it may be crowded to such a hearing by means of the part (1.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a table-leaf support, a supporting-arm rendered capable of an automatic falling and forward movement, substantially as specified. 2. A supporting-arm provided with one or more spiral ribs, in combination with one or more spiral loops, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. The combination and arrangement of the arm 0, provided with the spiral ribs a a, the loops a a, and the inclined serrated plate 13, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. In a tableleaf support, the slotted plates D and D, either or both, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

EVERETT L. ABBOTT. SAMUEL T. GIBSON.

Witnesses GEORGE PFLEGER, P. E. RUFF. 

